50 Greatest Festivals in the World

This is the guide to the best and most interesting festivals in the world, organized by date to help you plan your travels accordingly. From hot air balloons to water fights, this list has it all. Many of the dates are variable, so be sure to check online to find out the specific dates for your festivals!

February

Hindus and Sikh, in India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka celebrate the main day of this incredibly fun 16-day religious festival by throwing colored powder and water at each other. Learn more about the Holi festival.

7- The Carnival of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: February or March

A week of extravagant parades, dancing, colors, and alcohol makes this one of the most exciting and well-known festivals in the world.

8- Mardi Gras, New Orleans, USA: late February or Early March

Beads and booze. A crazy celebration before lent, aka the last day before giving up sinful pleasure.

9- Pingxi Lantern Festival, Taiwan: February

People write their wishes on fire lanterns and release them into the sky en masse, creating a beautiful spectacle of floating lights.

10- Carnival of Venice, Italy: between February & March

One of the most beautiful festivals in the world, people wear masks and elaborate costumes to hide differences among classes, and there are contests for the best costumes.

11- The Battle of the Oranges, Ivrea, Italy: February

An enormous food fight where people form organized teams and throw oranges at each other.

12- Desert Festival of Jaisalmer, India: February

Witness cultural events like camel races, and a moonlit concert. Want to get there? Take an SUV or camel safari.

March

13- Ultra Music Festival, Miami, Florida: Late March

A very intense electronic music festival for the partiers out there. Make sure to dress outrageously.

14- Calle Ocho, Miami, Florida, USA: March

An exciting Cuban street festival in Little Havana, with food and live music.

15- Las Fallas, Valencia: March 15-19

Fire, fireworks, smoke, and excitement make this festival a cross between Disney World and the apocalypse.

April

The Thai New Year festival falls on some of the hottest days in Thailand, and people celebrate by throwing water on each other, using water guns, buckets, hoses- whatever they can get their hands on. Learn more about Songkran.

This is a national holiday and a “free market” day, so everyone sells everything on the streets. There are games, concerts, performances, and parties on boats in the canals. Learn more about Koninginnendag.

20- Sandfest, Port Aransas, Texas: April

An amazing sand sculpture contest with live entertainment.

June

21- Glastonbury Music Festival, England: last weekend of June

The largest open air music and preforming arts festival in the world.

22- Festival of the Sun, Peru: June 24

Expositions, street fairs, and live music mark the celebration of the sun god.

23- White Nights Festival/Scarlet Sails, St.Petersburg, Russia: end of June

Scarlet Sails is just one part of the white nights festival, including spectacular fireworks, concerts, and a mock battle among pirates in boats on the Neva River.

24- Food and Wine Classic, Aspen, Colorado: June

Participate in food and wine tasting, and watch cooking demonstrations, speakers, and a cooking competition. You need to buy a ticket.

July

25- San Fermin Festiva, Pamplona, Spain: July

There are many events including folkloric ones, but the most famous is the running of the bull.

43- Pushkar Camel Festival, India: November

44- Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, New York, USA: 4th Thursday of November

Giant balloons shaped like characters, as well as floats, bands, and entertainment, are paraded around New York city.

45- Monkey Buffet Festival, Lopburi, Thailand: end of November

The point of this festival is to give fruits and vegetables to monkeys and attract tourism. It works.

December

46- Junkanoo, Nassau, Bahamas: December 26 & January 1

A street festival with art, music, culture, elaborate costumes, and a parade, to bring in the new year.

47- Natchitoches Christmas Festival, Louisiana: December

Parades, boats, lights, and Christmas celebrations.

Varied Dates

48- Full Moon Party, Haad Rin, Ko Pha Ngan, Thailand: the night before or after every full moon

Like something straight from a movie, 20-30,000 people gather each full moon to spend the night partying on a beach and doing wild events like fire rope skipping.

49- Olympic Games: summer or winter every other year

Thousands of athletes from around the world participate in a variety of sports. The opening ceremony is always a spectacle. If you don’t know what the Olympics are… well, lets not go there.

50- Love Parade, Germany (canceled)

One of the world’s biggest festivals, celebrated from 1989-2003 & 2006-2010, it included electronic music, costumes, and “let-lose” behavior. Unfortunately due to the tragic deaths of 21 participants in 2010 due to over crowding, the Love Parade has been permanently canceled.